Casket



0d. 6, 1936. J LAWRENCE 2,056,404

GASKET Filed March 8, 1935 k/19 v L/5 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlE 2 Claims.

This invention relates in general to caskets and more particularly to a casket having an upper portion which is completely removable from the base portion and having a couch therein which is similar in all respects to an ordinary couch.

A principal object of my invention is the provision of a casket, the upper portion of which is hinged at one edge to the base thereof and may be entirely detached therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a couch within such a casket so that during display the deceased is given a more natural appearance, and the usual mentally depressing setting or background attendant therewith is largely eliminated.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a casket embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View of Fig. 1 with the cover and base portions shown in section to disclose the couch therein, and the cover portion shown in open position in broken lines;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with the top portion shown in section to disclose the couch and part of the lower moulding broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation with the rear lower moulding removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the upper portion of the casket is indicated generally at II and comprises a sloping top I2 which may have the usual full or half couch arrangement if desired, end walls I3 and front and rear walls I4 and I5, respectively, made of wood, metal or any suitable material and shaped in any desired manner. Attached to the side walls I4 and I5 are the usual handles I6. 'I'he rear wall I5 is hinged at its lower edge as at Il at a plurality of points to the base part I8 which may be supported upon a frame or roller, not shown, as is customary. The hinge pins I9 are adapted to be pulled out if it is desired to remove the upper portion II entirely away from the base: part I8.

The lower edge of the front wall I4 is adapted to be secured to the base part I8 in any desired manner, such as by bolting a portion thereof which extends below the upper surface of the base part to said base, as at 2l.

The hinges I "I, fastening means 2 I, and base l are obscured from View when the upper portion II and base I8 are assembled together by means of moulding members 22, one for each of the four sides, which are maintained in tight frictional engagement with the side and end walls by means of hinged connections 23.

Rigidly secured to the upper surface of the base I8 in any suitable manner is a couch 2li having attached thereto a back portion 25 and being provided with a` pillow 26, all of which may be made of any desired material.

To remove the upper portion I l from the base part I8 for display purposes, the mouldings 22 are raised or rotated about their hinged portions 23, l5 the fastening means 2l removed, and the upper portion Il swung backwards about its pivots Il' into the dotted line position of Fig. 2. In this position the upper portion may be draped with flowers; or it may be entirely separated from the base I8 by removing the pins i9 from the hinges Il and moved away out of sight.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. In a casket of couch type having a bell, a base and fastening means wherein the bell is pivoted to the base along one edge thereof and fastened thereto at the opposite edge, false moldings pivoted adjacent the bottom edge of the bell and overhanging the base whereby to cover the pivoted joint and the fastening means and to allow movement of the bell and access to the fastening means.

2. In a casket of couch type having a bell, a base and fastening means wherein the bell is pivoted to the base along one edge thereof and fastened thereto at the opposite edge, mitered false moldings pivoted adjacent the bottom edges of the bell and overhanging the base whereby to cover the pivoted joint and the fastening means and to allow movement of the bell and access to the fastening means.

CAD

JAMES LAWRENCE. 

